Help wanted: Manufacturing jobs abound in Detroit

Help wanted: Manufacturing jobs abound in Detroit

Earlier this summer, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker convened a meeting at Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow — a part of the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation Institutes focused on lightweight manufacturing — in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The secretary has been on a national listening tour to learn more about the real-time talent needs of manufacturers. During a round table discussion, several U.S. Congressional representatives and other experts tackled the notion that manufacturing should be written off in this country.

While manufacturing has seen its share of bumps in the road, nationally, the private sector has created more than 900,000 manufacturing jobs since the Great Recession. For every $1 in economic activity generated from U.S. manufacturing, economists estimate that $1.48 is generated in complementary services and production.

This dynamic is called the multiplier effect, and it is higher in manufacturing than any other industry. Moreover, the effect is typically stronger in Southeast Michigan, with its abundance of automotive activity. Fortunately, Southeast Michigan has shared in manufacturing's national post-recession resurgence.

In looking at manufacturing, Workforce Intelligence Network analyzes the engineering and design aspects of the industry, as well as skilled trades. In-demand occupations in the engineering and design group include mechanical, electrical, industrial and validation engineers, as well as commercial and industrial designers and others. Those in the skilled trades group, on the other hand, are production workers, first-line supervisors of production and operating workers, electronic engineering technicians and machinists, to name a few.

Employment in the region's manufacturing engineering and design group has shown a steady growth since the Great Recession, which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009. In particular, there was a 35 percent growth in employment from 2009 to 2016. According to WIN's soon-to-be released second quarter 2016 regional labor market report, 123,514 workers are employed in the engineering and design group in greater Southeast Michigan.

Employment in the region's manufacturing skilled trades group has also been growing since hitting a low point during the Great Recession. Employment increased by about 33 percent in 2016, compared to 2009's employment. According to the soon-to-be released Q2 2016 reports, there are 116,060 workers employed in the manufacturing skilled trades in greater Southeast Michigan.

Small and large manufacturers in Michigan say their top need right now is talent. Manufacturing jobs are available and hundreds of employers across the region are crying out, "Help wanted!" Given the importance of the sector for economic growth and job creation in the region, it is critical for all stakeholders to listen to the call and work together to devise solutions.

- WIN's David Palmer, director of business partnerships, and Sooin Lee, data and research intern, provided research and analysis for this post.